BUD/S Graduation“Ring Out”
Outside the Master Chief’s office, the line of abandoned helmets represents each man who rang the notorious bell once signaling his termination.
His helmet with his name and class number is placed on the ground. His determination to be a SEAL has reached its limit but failed to meet the standard requirements. He is done. And for the rest of his life, he will remember his moment underneath that bell and its ringing echo of defeat, or defiance, deficiency, or just plain delirium.
In 26 weeks of training those men waiting to “ring out” for graduation have run 806 miles, swum 77 miles, finished the obstacle course 29 times, completed 126 grueling hours of gut-busting physical training, survived 8 hours of “log PT,” spent 19 hours in inflatable boats, logged 35 hours diving, and fired 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
- Text by Jennifer Walton
